Lowestoft Museum was delighted to open to the public again this summer and the joy of viewing museum collections up close was shared by both the volunteer team and visitors alike.
Despite a shorter opening season, visitor numbers were month for month significantly higher than last year and shop sales and donations, helped by the acquisition of a Sum Up machine, were also proportionately higher. Highlights of the season included a formal visit by the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, an exhibition to commemorate VJ day and a HODS photographic display telling the story of war time Lowestoft.
Throughout the past year volunteers have also been working hard to renovate an unoccupied room in an adjoining building in order to incorporate it into the museum. Funded partly by a £6,000 bequest, building work so far has included removing a partition wall, installing new heating, wiring and alarm systems and redecorating throughout. Once the fire doors have been certified, the wall separating the two rooms will be knocked through allowing access from the museum. This new area will be used as a long-awaited, dedicated learning space for school and community groups to enjoy. Behind the scenes this off-season promises to be as busy as ever as the museum team prepares for this transformation.